Allahabad HC declines PIL against alleged police interference over display of Khamenei portraits

The Allahabad High Court has declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to restrain the Uttar Pradesh Police from allegedly interfering with the peaceful display of portraits of Shia religious leaders, including former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on private properties.

The petition, filed by the Islamic organisation Majlis Ulema-E-Hind, sought directions to district police chiefs, superintendents of police and station house officers across Uttar Pradesh not to take coercive action against individuals displaying portraits of Shia religious leaders during mourning gatherings, Scroll.in reported.

The petition also requested the court to direct the police not to remove or interfere with portraits, banners or other visual representations of the religious leaders displayed on private residential and commercial properties.

A division bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla, however, declined to grant the relief. The bench observed that the petition was based on general and vague allegations of police interference and did not provide specific instances to support its claims.

The court noted that the petition failed to identify any particular residence or premises where such portraits had allegedly been displayed or removed by the police.

The bench further observed that any individual with a specific grievance against the actions of a police officer was free to pursue the appropriate legal remedies available under the law.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei served as Iran's Supreme Leader from 1989 until he was killed in a joint United States-Israel military strike on February 28, according to the report. During his tenure, he exercised authority over Iran's government institutions and armed forces.